Alexis L Levengood

admin/projects, School of Science, Technology and Engineering

Animal behaviour

marine mammal

dolphin

Conservation and biodiversity

Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)

conservation genetics

Behavioural ecology

marine megafauna

marine health

Ecology

About

Dr Alexis Levengood is an animal behaviouralist and marine mammal expert with interests spanning behavioural ecology, conservation genetics, marine health, conservation and management, and anthropogenic impacts. Dr Levengood primarily works with marine mammals, specifically coastal dolphins, humpback whales, and dugongs, but also conducts research on other marine megafauna (e.g., sharks, turtles, rays), and terrestrial species (e.g., koalas, kangaroos, bats, bears, frogs).

Currently Alexis has both HDR and Honours students working on dolphin, whale, dugong, and shark, behaviour, ecology, genetics, and health. For students interested in pursuing HDR or Honours projects please contact Alexis via email alevengo@usc.edu.au.

Education:

PhD - Ecology & Evolution

2019, University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast)

MRes - Marine Mammal Science

2013, University of St Andrews (United Kingdom, St Andrews)

BA - Biology & Environmental Studies

2010, Connecticut College (United States, CT)

Teaching:

Animal Behaviour, Marine Vertebrates, Stats with Teeth, Animal Field Ecology, Science Research Methods

Current Student Supervision:

PhD

J. Buckman (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Threats, migration ecology, and population structure – implications for the recovery and resilience of the east Australian humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
M. Altice (University of the Sunshine Coast) - Maternal investment and early life stress in neonatal and juvenile sharks: implications for conservation.
M. Keane (University of the Sunshine Coast) - Blue Biosphere: Human wildlife interactions between iconic marine species in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
N. Blais (University of the Sunshine Coast) - Abundance, habitat use, and ecosystem impacts on herbivorous sea turtles and dugongs in southeast Queensland.
R. Rowland (University of the Sunshine Coast) - Impacts of urban living on insectivorous bats

Hons

B. Toohey (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Parasite community structure, diversity, and prevalence in the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)
N. Rodriquez (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Epistemic inequities in marine conservation: A systematic review of Indigenous knowledge marginalisation in dugong studies in Queensland
I. Steel (University of the Sunshine Coast) - Aetiology of a novel humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) skin lesion and assessment of its prevalence, severity, and spatio-temporal patterns in Southeast Queensland
J. Bell (University of the Sunshine Coast) - Physiological stress response to capture in bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas).
S. Jones (University of the Sunshine Coast) - Bioindicators of ecosystem health: bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) parasite loading in SEQ rivers.
Bella Chaseling (University of the Sunshine Coast) - Incorporating risks from climate and urban land-use change projections to identify threats, climate refugia, and conservation priorities for the vulnerable wallum sedge frog (Litoria olongburensis)
D. Botros (University of the Sunshine Coast) - Environmental and temporal influences on cetacean catch rates in the Queensland Shark Control Program.
E. Brown (University of the Sunshine Coast) - In-situ rehabilitation of Bornean Sun Bears, analysis of behaviour and diet.

Past Students:

G. Hume, PhD (University of the Sunshine Coast) - Investigating the population ecology of dolphins in southeast Queensland, Australia.
A. Ikpe, MSc. (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Fine-scale habitat use an physiology of the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
J. Buckman, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Coastal dolphin health assessed through morphometric body condition assessments along southeast Queensland
F. Quin, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) juvenile kinship in Sunshine Coast rivers, Queensland
D. Russell, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Occurrence, frequency, and distribution of anthropogenic and disease markings on dolphins on the Sunshine Coast
G. Webster, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Epidermal health assessments of coastal dolphins in the Great Sandy Marine Park
J. Lennan, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Historical and contemporary abundance patterns of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hervey Bay, Queensland
I. Athien-Hayes, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Does the temporal and spatial presence of whales drive the seasonal movements of large sharks in SEQ?
R. Banaghan, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Impacts of environmental and temporal factors on the catch rate of bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) in nearshore habitats in Queensland
C. Staggard, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Estimating population size of elusive species: Application of non-invasive genetic capture recapture in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).
A. Linn, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Assessing multiple paternity in spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) litters
N. Brunjes, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Genetic population structure of the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) in Australia
M. Keane, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Using SNP genotype sequencing to understand kinship and relatedness of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in a migratory stop-over site in Southeast Queensland
B. Page, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Stock structure of the eastern shovelnose ray (Aptychotrema rostrata) along the east coast of Australia
A. Radu, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Genetic and cultural connectivity among southern Queensland silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis)
C. Schou, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Anthropogenic noise effects on eastern dwarf tree frog (Litoria fallax) mating behaviour
L. Prior, Hons Class 1 (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Optimising survey methods and quantifying call types of an elusive ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus)

Expert media commentary:

Dr Alexis Levengood’s specialist areas of knowledge include the behaviour, ecology, and genetics of marine mammals. Additionally, Alexis has undertaken this work on a diversity of other keystone species, from frogs, bats, and koalas, to sharks, rays, and fish.